ST. LOUIS – The game featured two teams out of playoff contention but you wouldn’t have known it Sunday, as a vicious brawl broke out late in the second quarter inside Edward Jones Dome, leaving the Giants and the Rams fighting mad and three players ejected by referee Pete Morelli.

The Giants were leading 20-10 when rookie Odell Beckham Jr. caught a 6-yard pass along the sideline and then, while out of bounds, was nailed by linebacker Alec Ogletree, who did a pile-driver move as he dropped Beckham on the side of the Giants bench. Beckham did not appreciate the hit and fired the ball at Ogletree, and that’s when all heck broke loose. Punter Steve Weatherford tried to calm and control Beckham but he went after Ogletree and the Giants defensive players on the sideline joined in the fracas. Earlier in the game, Beckham caught a 9-yard touchdown pass and then was hit with a taunting penalty when he spun the ball in the end zone — something he did last week without incurring a penalty. In the second quarter, Rams cornerback T.J. Michael was hit with a 12-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for a late hit out of bounds on Beckham.

So, there was simmering hostilities between these teams when the Giants came to the defense of their prize rookie, who they felt was getting manhandled. Receiver Preston Parker threw a punch. Defensive end Damontre Moore appeared to jump on the back of Rams defensive end William Hayes. It was an out-of-control situation, and when the players were finally separated, Parker, Moore and Hayes were all ejected. The Giants should have had a first down on their 41-yard line but, after losing their cool, they were backed up on their own 14-yard line as boos and jeers cascaded down on them.

The Giants took a 20-13 lead into halftime.

Beckham in the first half had four receptions for 24 yards and his 75 catches broke Jeremy Shockey’s 2002 rookie record of 73 receptions.